Emotional word use in informal dementia carers: A linguistic analysis of online discussion forums (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren Donnellan ◽  
Jasmine Warren
Keyword(s):  
Language Use ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Emotional Word ◽  
Emotional States ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Word Use ◽  
Emotion Words ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Emotional Language ◽  
Increased Risk

BACKGROUND Growing numbers of informal dementia carers are turning to online discussion forums for support. Research has explored emotional word use on online discussion forums as a proxy for underlying emotional functioning. We are not aware of any research that has analysed the content of posts on discussion forums specific to dementia carers in order to examine their emotional states. OBJECTIVE We address the following research questions: 1) To what extent does emotional language use differ between dementia carers and non-carers? 2) To what extent does emotional language use differ between spousal and parental carers? 3) To what extent does emotional language use differ between current and former carers? METHODS We used the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count programme to examine emotional word use on a UK-based online forum for informal dementia carers and a discussion forum control group. Carers were separated into different subgroups for the analysis: current and former; and spousal and parental. RESULTS We found that dementia carers used significantly more negative, but not positive, emotion words than non-carers. Spousal carers used more emotion words overall than parental carers, specifically more negative emotion words. Former carers used more emotional words overall than current carers, specifically more positive words. CONCLUSIONS The findings suggest that informal dementia carers may be at increased risk of negative emotional states, relative to non-carers. Greater negativity in spousal carers may be explained by increased caregiver burden, whereas greater positivity in former carers may be explained by functional relief of caregiving responsibilities. The theoretical/applied relevance of these findings is discussed.

scholarly journals Expressions of Grief in Online Discussion Forums—Linguistic Similarities and Differences in Pet and Human Bereavement

2020 ◽  
pp. 003022282091467
Author(s):  
Minna Lyons ◽  
Katie Floyd ◽  
Haley McCray ◽  
Claire Peddie ◽  
Katherine Spurdle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Connectedness ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Word Use ◽  
Sibling Loss ◽  
Pet Loss ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Online Discussion Forum ◽  
Relationship Types ◽  
Linguistic Inquiry

We compared online discussion forum posts related to pet loss to those related to human bereavement. Posts ( N =  401) were analyzed using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count software for frequencies of word use relevant to bereavement. Words related to anger, sadness, and negative emotions were used at similar frequencies for all grief. Sibling loss was associated with using first person pronouns at higher frequencies, and positive emotion words at lower frequencies than other categories of loss. There were some similarities in partners and pets in the word use related to friends and social connectedness. Words related to religion were highest when writing about losing a child and lowest when losing a pet. Our results highlight the similarities in the vocabulary in pet and human bereavement. Findings demonstrate the importance of online discussion forums for understanding the process of grief and specific relationship types.

scholarly journals Using Design-Based Research to Develop Meaningful Online Discussions in Undergraduate Field Experience Courses

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Johnson ◽  
Laurie Hill ◽  
Jennifer Lock ◽  
Noha Altowairiki ◽  
Christopher Ostrowski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Organizational Design ◽  
Field Experience ◽  
Online Discussion ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Task Completion ◽  
Discussion Forums ◽  
Design Based Research ◽  
Online Discussion Forums ◽  
Group Structures

<p class="3">From a design perspective, the intentionality of students to engage in surface or deep learning is often experienced through prescribed activities and learning tasks. Educators understand that meaningful learning can be furthered through the structural and organizational design of the online environment that motivates the student towards task completion. However, learning engagement is unique for each student. It is dependent on both how students learn and their intentions for learning. Based on this challenge, the design of online discussions becomes a pedagogical means in developing students’ intentionality for the adoption of strategies leading to deep learning. Through a Design-Based Research (DBR) approach, iterative design of online learning components for undergraduate field experience courses were studied. For this paper, the focus of the research is on examining factors that influenced deep and surface levels of learning in online discussion forums. The results indicate that design factors (i.e., student engagement, group structures, and organization) influence the nature and degree of deep learning. From the findings, two implications for practice are shared to inform the design and scaffolding of online discussion forums to foster deep approaches to student learning.</p>

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